Overview

The International Labour Organisation estimate there are over a million work related deaths each year with over 100 million workers affected by accidents or through ill health. Every workplace requires effective safety, health and environment management and this course integrates the skills of practical risk appraisal, with problem solving and solution giving, coupled with the communication skills to invoke change.

This specialist degree is tailored towards professionals wishing to gain academic qualifications in this vital area of workplace operations. As a top-up award we build on your previous qualifications (NEBOSH Certificate, Diploma in Higher Education etc) or experience, or a combination of both. Those coming onto this course do so from a huge range of situations and this degree seeks to build on your skill set. Whether you are looking for your first job or are an existing practitioner, this top-up programme will enhance your skills and knowledge.

Your studies will be professionally focused to include regular site visits to our industry partner organisations, consistently blending theory with practice. You will develop expert knowledge in the operational risk management of workplace hazards and learn how successful risk management is driven by educated safety, health and environmental practitioners. Your coursework and learning will be built around practical risk assessment, case studies, and management reports. Once you graduate, you will be able to competently risk appraise safety, hygiene, health and environmental issues and provide suitable solutions. This degree will give you confidence in creating positive workplace cultures surrounding safety, health and environmental management.

*Please note this course is subject to review.

Course highlights

We work closely with employers to ensure our degree meets the needs of industry

Practical risk assessment exercises, site visits, and engagement with recruitment agencies specialising in health and safety

Our tutors are respected former health and safety regulators, consultants, and practitioners who maintain their links to practice to ensure current practice informs your studies

You will have access to specialist resources including top of the range equipment and labs for HSE monitoring and assessment

The Faculty of Science and Technology has a reputation for excellence in teaching and consultancy in health, safety and environment

We have excellent graduate employment rates (Destination of Leavers in Higher Education survey)

This course is equivalent to the final year of a degree (see Entry Requirements)

Find out more

Department

What our staff say

Safety needs a new perspective. It is not about having a system, procedure or tool it is about being able to implement improvement. Our degree integrates management systems with human factors and organisational psychology to achieve a safe and enhanced workplace.

Alan Page, Programme Leader

Did you know

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

Course content

What will you study on the BSc Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (Top-up)?

There are 4 key elements to this award:

Toxicology and Occupational HygieneMore people die as a result of exposure to harmful substances (biological, physical and chemical) than through accidents. Thus the award provides you with the skills to determine risk and implement a hierarchy of solutions.

Work Place Safety and ManagementDiffering management approaches can impact on work place safety and understanding how to work in differing settings to improve safety is a key outcome. You will also learn how to investigate accidents and minimise the severity of incidents.

Organisational Psychology and ErgonomicsWhere you work and who you work with and for is a huge part of well being at work. The module looks at individual risk perceptions, safety climates and safety culture

What will you gain?

As well as a depth of knowledge and understanding surrounding the subject, you will also gain competence in risk assessment and in communicating suitable solutions. You will have industry and employability specific skills and will have developed a holistic, multi-disciplinary understanding of the scientific, legislative, policy, technical and managerial skills on which to base professional competence in relation to occupational safety, health and environment.

Modules

For full-time students, the six compulsory 15 credit modules are studied in one year. In addition, there is a 30 credit research project completed over the length of the course.

For part-time students, you will complete three compulsory modules over two years and half your research project in each year of study. You will still have the same access to University facilities and resources as full-time students

Core modules

Environmental Assessment and Management (15 credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to provide knowledge and insight into environmental practices of pollution prevention, common commercial pollutants and the systems that govern their control and management in the workplace also considering the policy and legal basis. A focus on relevant environmental practitioner requirements in industry is provided. Practitioner management techniques and methods are provided with the objective of developing competence in assessing and managing workplace environmental aspects to improve legal compliance and environmental performance.

Management and Law (15 credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to develop an appreciation of the principals and application of occupational health and safety law and the approaches and methodologies for effective management encompassing cost control through effective accident analysis and risk management.

Occupational Health, Hygiene and Ergonomics (15 credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to develop an appreciation of the principals and application of occupational health and safety law and the approaches and methodologies for effective management encompassing cost control through effective accident analysis and risk management.

Risk Management and Occupational Psychology (15 credits) - Compulsory

This module focuses on risk perceptions at both an individual and company level, developing and measuring safety climates and instigating positive safety culture.

Toxicology and Science Foundation (15 credits) – Compulsory

This module provides you with the skills and knowledge that will underpin your future studies in occupational health, safety and environmental sciences. Emphasis is placed on toxicology and the way in which biological, physical and chemical agents can affect human anatomical and physiological systems.

Work Place Health and Safety (15 credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to equip you to be able to review the causes of and methods of preventing or minimising the severity of accidents, fires and explosions with workplace structures, plant, equipment and processes. It will also equip you with the skills required to inspect workplaces and work equipment.

Research Methods and Project (30 credits) - Compulsory

This module aims to synthesise learning from your undergraduate programme providing an opportunity for you to study independently and investigate a topic in depth. It fosters academic curiosity, an inquiry based approach, the employment and application of research skills thus facilitating the development of a higher level of theorising. You will select a topic of personal interest you wish to study further and will manage your own learning during this module, with the support of an allocated supervisor for this period of independent study.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching

How is the BSc Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (Top-up) taught?

A key element of the programme is immersive teaching process using the university’s facilities to undertake practical workplace inspections, audits and risk assessments so as to develop your competency as a safety practitioner across occupational health, hygiene, safety and environmental management. You will also attend lectures, workshops and seminars, where you will discuss ideas and develop your understanding, and work on case studies involving practical workplace problems, laboratory tasks and group tasks. Learning is seen as collegiate with a strong cohort feel developed so that you can learning with and from your peers, as well as your tutors.

You will further your knowledge through your own independent study, including online study and exercises, and will have the opportunity to use professional online databases such as the Barbour index and HSE campaign sites. You will also undertake an independent piece of research to further your understanding of health and safety and to improve future safety practice.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a variety of means, including your dissertation, and coursework including case study assessments, essays, inspections, audit reports and management reports. In addition, you will develop safety leaflets, including peer appraisal and develop reflective practice.

Life at Middlesex

Entry requirements

Qualifications

Applicants will require equivalent level 4 and 5 learning in an aligned technical (e.g. engineering, construction, operational management) or risk management (e.g. inspection, environmental health, healthcare nursing, organisational risk management) area obtained through existing study e.g. BSc student who has completed year one and two of another degree course, Cert HE OHS Enforcement, Diploma in Nursing or other Professional Diploma.

Applicants will also be considered who have the NEBOSH General or International Certificate at NVQ3 with appropriate and relevant experience.

Applicants may also have appropriate experience that can be recognised at level 5. Recognition and accreditation of learning (RAL) is available for those students who do not have evidence of level 4 or 5 learning but can demonstrate equivalent learning through other professional or work based activities and produce evidence of that work along with a persuasive statement of how the work has contributed to the student's understanding of health and safety practice.

Applicants will also need GCSE English at grade C or above

The BSc (Hons) is a top-up qualification allowing those applicants who can demonstrate appropriate prior learning and experience to access the 3rd year of a degree. Applicants are usually provided with some pre-reading material to ensure that they are adequately prepared for study at this level.

New UCAS Tariff

The UCAS Tariff has changed for courses starting in September 2017. The points awarded to each qualification have been lowered in comparison to the previous UCAS Tariff. Our entry requirements are displayed as the grades you will require, however if you wish to find out the equivalent tariff points please use the UCAS calculator.

Eligibility

UK/EU and international students are eligible to apply for this course.

Academic credit for previous study or experience

If you have achieved a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND, or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to enter a Middlesex University course in year two or three. For further information please visit our Transfer students page.

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.

Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions

Entry onto this course does not require an interview, portfolio or audition.

Qualifications

We accept the equivalent of the above qualifications from a recognised overseas qualification:

Applicants will require equivalent level 4 and 5 learning in an aligned technical (e.g. engineering, construction, operational management) or risk management (e.g. inspection, environmental health, healthcare nursing, organisational risk management) area obtained through existing study e.g. BSc student who has completed year one and two of another degree course, Cert HE OHS Enforcement, Diploma in Nursing or other Professional Diploma.

Applicants will also be considered who have the NEBOSH General or International Certificate at NVQ3 with appropriate and relevant experience.

Applicants may also have appropriate experience that can be recognised at level 5. Recognition and accreditation of learning (RAL) is available for those students who do not have evidence of level 4 or 5 learning but can demonstrate equivalent learning through other professional or work based activities and produce evidence of that work along with a persuasive statement of how the work has contributed to the student's understanding of health and safety practice.

The BSc (Hons) is a top-up qualification allowing those applicants who can demonstrate appropriate prior learning and experience to access the 3rd year of a degree. Applicants are usually provided with some pre-reading material to ensure that they are adequately prepared for study at this level.

To find out more about the qualifications we accept from your country please visit the relevant support in your country page. If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office for support.

New UCAS Tariff

The UCAS Tariff has changed for courses starting in September 2017. The points awarded to each qualification have been lowered in comparison to the previous UCAS Tariff. Our entry requirements are displayed as the grades you will require, however if you wish to find out the equivalent tariff points please use the UCAS calculator.

Visas and immigration

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK. Please see our visas and immigration page for further information.

English language requirements for international students

You must have competence in English language to study with us. The most commonly accepted evidence of English language ability is IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all components). Visit our English language requirements page for a full list of accepted tests and qualifications. If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.

Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions

Entry onto this course does not require an interview, portfolio or audition.

Scholarships, fees and bursaries

Careers

How can the BSc Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (Top-up) support your career?

This course can open the doors to a wide range of careers. You could work in a company as a health, safety and environment advisor, or within a specialist consultancy, or as a self-employed practitioner. Many of our graduates also work overseas for international companies.

Life at Middlesex

Campus life

Student profiles

Caroline De Sousa

BSc Occupational, Health & Environment (top-up) student

I’ve always been interested in risk assessment, so when I found this course it just instantly appealed to me. Before this, I was an Executive Assistant in Canary Wharf and I was beginning to crave something more academic.

The course leader has been amazing; constantly encouraging, supportive, and providing constructive criticism. Receiving positive feedback on assignments, when I had no prior knowledge of the area, feels so rewarding and has given me the confidence to go onwards.

The course content combined with the inspirational lecturers has genuinely changed my perspective on both my own life and what is possible for my career. It has made a dream into a reality for me; I’m now really excited to get into the industry. After the course finishes, I’ll be doing a 12 week summer placement at the engineering company, Ferrovial, and eventually I would like to become a Health and Safety manager.

Brian Deveney

BSc Occupational, Health & Environment (top-up) student

I already had a fair bit of experience within the health and safety sector - I was in the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for 15 years - so this course was perfect for me as I didn’t want to enter at a very basic level. I met two lecturers at an external event and they were both so engaging and enthusiastic that I was instantly keen to visit the university. When I did, it had a great feel and came across as an innovative place full of people who are keen to develop and constantly evolve.

Lecturing has been fantastic; the course leader is in touch with reality and understands the relevant industries so well. He has both the practical and theoretical knowledge that you need to gain a holistic insight.

The support services here are amazing. As someone who suffers with a long-term mental health issue, I found the support at Sunnyhill house incredible and I also received mentoring and tutoring support which I would recommend. Middlesex University is very good at providing these services, but I’m not sure how many students know of their existence, so I’d encourage everyone to make use of them.

If you are considering this course I’d say it’s really a no brainer. It’s a great programme, and Middlesex is a great university to attend and learn from. If you’re unsure, come and see for yourself at an open day.

Once I’ve finished this course I’m off to Toronto for an exciting new chapter, but I will always have fond memories of my time here.

Staff profiles

Dr Page is a former safety regulator with a long history of research for professional bodies and government agencies. His current research focuses on the role of regulation, the use of the workplace as a learning medium, and professional practice. Alan is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Environmental Health.

Mo Torabi
Lecturer in Occupational Safety

Mo has been a regulator, safety consultant and head of health and safety. He continues to practice and consult offering Senior Executive training and implementation of safety improvement plans.

Maeve developed her practice through process safety consultancy and environmental management working with large clients across the UK and Ireland.

What our staff say

Maeve O'Loughlin

Occupational Safety, Health and Environmental (Top-up) BSc academic

Our academics are also working as highly experienced practitioners so many professional practice skills are embedded in the course, including provision of new occupational monitoring equipment and application of skills to problem based case study scenarios.

We want students to develop and gain the qualities of high calibre graduates in the health and safety profession. We have run this course for many years and have recently reviewed the content of the course to ensure skills such as organisational culture, occupational psychology, principles of risk management and toxicology are included alongside the development of practical knowledge. This ensures you are able to recognise and have the means of addressing risk in the workplace when faced with underlying factors that impact upon good safety performance.

It is an exciting time for the profession in light of recent legal changes and the global need for sensible risk decision making. Whether working abroad under newly developed health and safety regimes or in the UK or EU, there has never been such demand for graduates with the technical and managerial skills to support health and safety in the workplace and our aim is to provide for your learning to do this successfully.

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Happy new year everyone! We're looking forward to welcoming our students, staff and friends around the world back for 2018. Here's hoping it will be a productive and rewarding year ahead for all of you!